VOL 11 NO 2
June 2016
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EDITORIAL
The Librarian was wandering through TCD the other month and by chance encountered some recent Old Columbans in College Park. Considering himself an incognito sort of person, he was touched at how pleased they were to see him—“OMG, it isn’t. Is it? It is!” Though he was realistic enough to understand part of their pleasure was, of course, in him seeing them, in their newfound state as students – no gowns, uniforms, timetables, a diet of takeaway food, midday rising, washing only every so often, wondering what day of the week it was etc. Some more came along – it was clearly a meeting point – so the Librarian entertained them with very funny banter about how they still had books overdue and he’d come to collect. After he had managed to calm them down and explain he was only joking, one Carlos Navarro of them said, “you know, I don’t think we really appreciated how good Columba’s Library was.” Another one added, “Our science library (in Bristol, just visiting) has some tatty old Physics books, that’s all.” Now the Librarian, who has heard such regrets before, is not one to say that youth is wasted on the young. You might as well say that flight is wasted on birds – or, indeed, that life is wasted on the living. There are many distractions, and to use a library fully you must be a committed reader or researcher. Besides, a library of St Columba’s type is best used for dipping into, and even for that you have to have energy – and time. And we all know how short of time young people are. But since we are once again in that valedictory hour the Librarian feels the pressing need to dispense good advice – an unfortunate symptom in those who have been there/done that, even if quite some time ago. So here goes: to our leavers, become life, enjoy life—you are life. Whatever it brings you, enter it as fully as you are able. Say your goodbyes properly—that is a sure way to reduce regret. And do try to return your books—in the widest sense of the words. TMcC, Librarian
Cymraeg, Gwyddeleg a Saesneg Ymadroddion
WELSH—IRISH—ENGLISH PHRASEBOOK
When you first meet Felix, he looks like any other of our everyday amazing Columban scholars but if you dig a little deeper you will find that he hides a dastardly secret—Felix is half Welsh! He has hidden his secret well throughout the junior school cycle but at last, in this very demanding Transitional Year, he has finally come out in the open by producing this magnificent Welsh Irish English phrasebook.
different languages. So if you want to say “It’s raining cats and dogs” in Welsh or Irish or simply need to inquire about the way to the shops, then this is the book for you. Felix would like to express his sincere thanks to all those who helped him during this lengthy project. He, like so many others from Transition Year, is especially grateful to Mr Peter McCarthy and all his team for their tremendously inspiring program which has made it possible for him and others to develop the skills required to complete projects such as this.
This is the first of its kind ever produced or published by St Columba’s College since the very first Irish-language textbooks were printed on the Columban printing presses, way back in the mid 19th century.
Two copies of Felix’s phrase book are available in the Library. So come on now, there are no more excuses for putting off that long-deserved trip to Wales or the Gaeltacht. Bon voyage—or should I say, Siwrne saff!
It is a beautiful colour-printed production with different colours used to represent the three
Pam y mae’r Honda glas yn gwneud 60 km yn y lon fewnol? Why is the blue Honda doing 60 km in the inside lane?
Peint o seidr os gwelwch yn dda A pint of cider, please
Mae gennyf fi benmaenmawr I have a hangover 2
Junior Poetry These three wonderful poems were shortlisted for the Junior Poetry Prize, which was awarded to Tania Stokes for Metaphorest, with highly commended going to Imogen Casey and Megan Bulbulia. Many thanks to Ms Donnelly.
Love I sat on a bench looking out at the city, my phone on the ground, my heart in my hands. The woman beside me stared with pity, as a small tear rolled down my cheek. I stepped in a cab without giving instructions. The driver looked at me without disruption. My family were praying just by the door, all of them kneeling, heads down on the floor. The body it lay as still as a rock. Everyone here was all still in shock. The arms were crossed, the eyes were shut, the small scar on his arm where he was cut. Now there is not a thing left of him. Not even a trace, a scent or a sight.
Sasha Konopleva
Imogen Casey
Metaphorest The Springtime garden was in bloom, Pansies and cosmos, tulips and roses, Ivy clambering up the trellis. Purples, pinks and whites and yellows Surrounded me, as I sat on the deck. The sunlight filtered through the eucalyptus And I used to go to far-off placesÍž I could sometimes hear the sea.
Gemma Rodriguez
One day, you floated here on the breeze, Planting yourself into my life. The garden was never quite the same
Once you began to spread, Your brambles tangling, choking the competition. Shadows fell over the house, As you rose up to dominate it all, Holding me in your thorny grasp. You had taken over completely. The wind changed, come Autumn When you blossomed into something richer. You finally brought forth your sweetness, As ripe blackberries sprung up everywhere. Each one was a memory full of flavour, And as we shared them, I knew That you had taken root in my heart.
Tania Stokes
The Cat
They always seemed to give me a cold dark glare, Scrutinising my every move As if I was in danger. The way they move, So dramatic, as if in slow-motion, The way they strike: Unforgiving, with no deliberation. They’re independent with no doubt. They hide and lurk in shadows. But when they’re in the light, They illuminate such radiance. Their coats shine bright, Their paws patter softly. And as they sleep, by your side, They purr away loudly. Now I’m not a danger, I’m no surprise, They look at me lovingly With warm bright eyes.
Megan Bulbulia
Sophia Cole
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REVIEW: SWORD ART ONLINE by REKI KAWAHARA NEVIN McCONE
Recently I have gained an interest in Anime and therefore stumbled upon the genre of books known as light novels, which are Japanese books with detailed drawings every fifty or so pages, usually in the design of anime. The light novel that I want to talk about is the first light novel in the series known as ‘Sword Art Online’ (SAO), by Reki Kawahara. You may have heard of the anime, but might not have known that it was originally a light novel. The plot is set in the virtual world of a ‘virtual reality massive multiplayer online role playing game’ (VRMMORPG), Sword Art Online, which is accessed via a headset that connects to one's brain and stimulates virtual reality. The main character, Kirito, finds that on the first day of SAO’s release, there is no option to logout and he soon realises that he himself and the other 10,000 players trapped in the game, have to fight the way from Floor 1 to 100 of the medieval-like world and eventually fight and defeat the creator of the game himself, Akihiko Kayaba. However this is no normal game. You don't respawn in SAO. When you die in the game, you actually die in real life. SAO connects with the reader due to the fact that it is in a game. This means you don't find it hard to imagine because many young people have played RPG games similar to SAO. Also, more importantly, just like the reader, characters such as Kirito have never experienced surroundings and a world like in SAO. This book is not just filled with tense ‘to the death’ battles with well choreographed sword fighting but it also has a unique emotional aspect that I have never experienced before. It has a unique romance that is not fake as the characters come across as young people who are very inexperienced in relationships. There is also huge character development in the book. Specifically I felt very attached, and still do, to Kirito, as like me, he is an introverted gamer who has a very empathic nature hidden within him. If you want to start reading light novels this is a great way to begin and I recommend it to anyone who is willing to try the genre. 5
Ведь казалось, так мало надо Нам с тобой. И чужие ловя взгляды, Слышала я голос твой. Ведь казалось никто не услышит Наших слов. Но вдали где-то снова задышит Та любовь, Что согреет нас в холод И в жару охладит. Ведь в душе из нас каждый молод, Жизнь старит...
Aleksandra Murphy
“I heard your sigh”
Ведь заложен смысл жизни на свете В паре фраз. И мгновения жизни и смерти Нам даны один раз...
Elena Sirazetdinova
It seemed so little needed when, I heard your sigh, Strangers catching distant glances, You and I. It seemed no person ever heard, a single word , It breathes again from far above... our love. What cooling from the freezing sun, And warming in the winter cold, For in our souls we're always young, It's life grows old. The meaning of this life on earth, phrased for a dunce, These fleeting times of life and death are given once. Johanna Wengersky
6
“How lucky I am,” said Winnie the Pooh, “to have something so wonderful, that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
SKAIVA 2008 – 2016
How lucky was I to have been honoured and blessed, to have known such a beautiful little girl as Skaiva. Skaiva made her first visit to St Columba’s College as a newborn baby with her proud Mam, Daiva; and a few times again after that. However, it wasn’t until her diagnosis, nearly two years ago, that I had the pleasure of getting to know her properly. She and I became friends. Typically, like most little girls her age, Skaiva loved colouring and drawing. She was a great little artist. She loved animals, especially cats, and most especially her cat, Nico. Her favourite film was ‘Frozen’ and she loved everything related to it. She loved all of the songs and she loved to dance to the music. In fact, it was only on Christmas day that Skaiva made her debut as a ballerina dancing on the altar in her local church. Earlier on in her illness when I would call to visit, she would welcome me at the door with a BIG hug (of my knees!) and the biggest smile. She would chat away to me like the little chatterbox she was. We developed our own little ritual when it came time for me to leave. I would kiss her goodbye, walk outside the house and stand in front of the sitting room window, where I would blow her a kiss and wave goodbye. On one occasion Skaiva was in so much pain that I didn’t expect our usual goodbye, but no, when I looked in the window, there she was, waving her little hand. Skaiva loved people going to visit her in hospital and it was during one of her many stays that Katie and Tony, from the kitchen, went to visit. Katie said that Skaiva loved Tony’s company and the two of them had such great fun together. Skaiva bore her illness with courage beyond her eight short years. She had great determination and strength and was a great example to all of us. June O’Halloran
“Sometimes,” said Winnie the Pooh, “the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”
An Architect
At work
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JOHN SOMERVILLE-LARGE
Continuing our ‘Successful Lives’ series, John Somerville-Large discusses his ongoing career as an architect, and his involvement in the structural development of St Columba’s.
By the time Tim Macey took over the Wardenship in 1988 it was clear that successfully
continuing to meet the challenges of rapid growth and change would not be achieved from a college surplus alone. Securing the College’s future would require attracting the financial support from a new generation of College benefactors. At the time, as I had not been in touch with the college since leaving in 1975. I knew little of the changes. Instead I was working in London, having recently set up my own practice after gaining critical formative experience with a number of carefully selected architectural practices. One evening I found myself at my first Old Columban Dinner in London. I was standing at the back of a room at the front of which The Warden, Tim Macey, was throwing his arms wide and declaring the intention to launch a Development Fund with a 150th Anniversary Development Plan. Standing next to me was Michael Aston (OC) and who was perhaps 15 years older was running the London office of the Irish practice Scott Tallon and Walker. “Obviously, they will do the job” I thought to myself. Robin Walker (OC 1924-1991) a principal and funding partner had designed the Science Labs in 1968, the inside of which is probably one my favourite parts of the College. The outside, raised above the sloping contour, was intended to form a subtle transition between the old and the new of his proposed but abandoned Master Plan (see below). The building is like an abandoned but wellbehaved orphan, so the quiet neutrality of its glass and Venetian blind facades has been tolerated, but it has never quite worked. Strong South-Westerly’s get into the unsealed glazed perimeter and punctuate science classes with a thunderous shake of the blinds. The life cycle of many of the materials used in its construction, especially the flat roof has now been long exceeded and the building will simply need subtle restorative care. Because the College represented a potential client who would have a long-term interest in their buildings I became attracted to the idea of making a contribution to its future. When, almost twenty years Library model—photo John Somerville-Large earlier Norman Lush swept his arm in a broad arc over the Lower Yard and fixed my 18 year old self with a slightly sideways look, my instinctive response to his “So, you’re off to study architecture. Then what would you do with this lot?” was prescient. Instead of the reply one might anticipate from an aspiring architect: “knock it all
The Sports Hall opening—photo John Somerville-Large
down and start again with a great visionary Master-plan,” my reply was simply “build another storey on top of it all.” I was not to know then that Robin Walker’s Master-plan of 1968, proposing an enormous programme of building to be constructed in place of both the Upper and Lower Farm Yards and having no relation to every other building that had gone before, had long ago been consigned to the Bursar’s bottom drawer. Walker’s new Science building was the first and last of the proposed buildings as the College abandoned its second Master-plan. The Warden and fellows were tentatively suggesting that a Library might be the first new building. I learnt later that here were about six other architects competing. Later I learnt a proposal was advanced for a new library to be built deep into the solid rock beneath and in the centre of the Second Garden. It was to be topped by a wonderful glass pyramid reminiscent of the new Louvre galleries in Paris. Essentially my proposal to carefully review and work within the existing framework of quadrangles, gardens and farmyards and to start by reinforcing the centre of gravity of the historic core with the construction of the library, almost exactly as it is today, won the day. It was reassuring to me that my freehand line sketch of the library was convincing enough without the need for ‘architect’s clouds’ or other mannered devices to dramatise the context and make the design more alluring. Working closely with the committed and visionary Warden Tim Macey and then Chairman of the Fellows David O’Morchoe, respected personification of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart’s motto: “First be cautious to be adventurous,” many hours were spent over many months planning the basis of an ambitious fundraising and new building programme. Influential In the background, but in the quietest of ways, was the sensitive mediating intelligence of former Chairman and Senator John Ross (1919 – 2012). He lately bequeathed the small Evie Hone stained glass to the College which I am pleased to see now resides in the library. A question about the Development Plan continually returned. “What actually is a Development Plan? Is it something you hang on a wall? And what’s its difference to a Master Plan?” A Development Plan is the administrative tool with which growth, change and opportunities are effectively managed. It is a gathering of detailed knowledge of the past and present with considered statements of intent and ideas for the future. It is in a continual state of evolution. But as times and people change so knowledge, experience and ideas may be forgotten and lost. So a Development plan is documented in a series 9
The Sports Hall opening—photo John Somerville-Large
of statements, plans and diagrams into which fresh energy is injected at each Review and by each new generation. A Master Plan is the Development Plan’s summary in a single document you can 'hang on a wall' and is replaced at each Review. A Development Plan protects the past and present from an ill-judged future and the future from redundancy in the past. A school maintaining a Development Plan inspires confidence. This is especially attractive to those who may wish to become benefactors. There was a logical sequence to the way I approached formulating a Plan that applies to any project. First of all, I looked at the present and discovered that there was only a single crude hand-drawn diagram of the College pinned up in the Staff Common Room. So I commissioned a comprehensive outline survey of the entire College, which we gradually added to over time to include outline plans of the interiors of every building. The survey also was extended to include the mapping of all water, underground centralised heating and drainage services, valves and inspection points throughout the College, including the Glen Stream which runs through the centre of the College in a conduit. With these resources it became possible for the Fellows and their consultants to gain an understanding of the campus that had not been possible before. Secondly, I looked backwards in time to understand how the College campus had been originally conceived and subsequently evolved. I was then able to demonstrate how, after the abandonment of the original Hardwicke plan, new building facilities were constructed in 4 periods of building, broadly coinciding with each Warden’s tenure. On a clearly ad-hoc basis each new building was simply located on the next available vacant piece of land closest to the point of decision-making in the Tapestry Room of the old ‘Warden’s House’. The buildings of each period I easily plotted on 4 successive concentric arcs each further along the East to West 1st, 2nd & 3rd Garden axis than the one before. Thirdly, I looked at all of the college buildings and elements of the campus and suggested a scale of value to be attached from Grade 1 (to be retained without alteration) to Grade 7 (ready for demolition to clear a site for better use). Finally, looking forward in time with by now an informed awareness of how the College needed to evolve, I was able to confirm the proposal for the New Library as the first new building to be constructed right in the heart of the College’s historic core. Then later, as the design progressed and at the suggestion of John Fanagan while at my design table in London, adding its drama studio that would connect directly onto the school stage above. At a key meeting of the Fellows the Chairman was able to confirm that the College was not aiming to build the cheapest Library but neither was it aiming to build a Rolls Royce. Continuing the allusion to cars, he said the Library would be more in line with the cost of “a Rover.” This satisfied everyone and the decision was made to push on immediately. Happily the proposals and then the building itself immediately won
unanimous support for the ongoing Development Fund and it was not long before all of the money was raised for its construction. Later buildings included a pair of urgently required staff houses which I located on the site of what I believe was the original single storey C18th farmhouse which had been much altered by the College farmer David Pulman’s concrete grain silo cast on top. The cottage and its tiny original farm yard straddled a much earlier alignment of the Hurley Lane in the typical hillside pattern of a small holding. In my time at the College one room of the old farmhouse was called ‘The Drum Room’ and it was here that U2’s Adam Clayton practiced on his guitar. By designing the staff houses on the exact footprint of the original buildings, I was pleased I was at least able to retain the form of the original farmyard, The Sports Hall was to be next on the Development Plan agenda. I located a site for and then sketched out the ambitious design of the optimistic New Sports Hall and integral sports centre. Like the Tardis-like Library, although for a different reason, it was also designed to appear much smaller on the outside than it is on the inside. To convince the Fellows of the viability of the design, which was to prove about 15% more expensive than the cheapest possible alternative, I first made a model (later to be crushed by a falling telephone directory) and organised the clearing away of scrub and overgrown hedgerows to reveal the proposed building’s elevated site, highly visible and respectfully commanding the new entrance drive. As Patrick Gray, both Old Columban and legendary maths teacher remarked at the time: “nobody even knew the site was there.” Back in London, standing propped against a juddering support on the crowded London Underground, I was sketching out an unresolved detail of the Sports Hall’s soaring roof. I looked up from my sketch book and found myself coincidently jammed up against a startled Julian Girdham, today’s Sub-Warden. I felt this was a good omen. The Sports Hall’s classical architectural language, including its raised siting above the new drive and against “a skyline unchanged since the ice-age” was deliberate. As the most western building of the campus, it would balance the original c.1800 classical Georgian building as the most eastern building of the college campus and signal the new front of the College. If the library focused on the interior of the College, the Sports Hall dramatically addresses its exterior, the landscape beyond and the new entrance from the West. The distinctive roof design was intended to form a kind of building kinship with the rural landscape’s standard metal barn buildings that to me have always possessed a visceral and simple beauty. On the opening day of the Sports Hall the Chairman expressed the view that the building's additional 15% cost when compared to the cheapest alternative was repaid several times over in quality, the message of confidence about the college’s future and also the surprising speed with which funds had been secured from benefactors. Over a short period of approximately 15 to 20 years, the College had changed from an historic all-boys school into a fully co-educational place of learning – yet it has retained its strong sense of tradition. In simple terms, by becoming fully co-educational the College doubled in size and simultaneously staked its claim to continue being counted amongst the best schools in a rapidly changing Ireland. The M50 Motorway has proved an asset, rather than the damaging liability many feared, for it has brought the college out of its former isolation to be closer to the City and, thanks to the EU’s road building programme, closer to the country as a whole. The College has settled into the confident new identity that its successfully managed growth and change has brought and is now well poised to rise to the challenges of the future. ___________________________________ 11
REVIEW: THE LSHAPED ROOM by LYNNE REID BANKS BLANAID SHEERAN
The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks, proves that age is not a factor in the point at which we mature. Jane Graham, an unmarried, pregnant 27 year old, is forced to leave her comfortable suburban home by her outraged father. As a punishment for her wrongs Jane condemns herself to a bugridden L-shaped room at the top of a squalid house in Fulham. With a failed attempt at solidarity she comes to find a new zest for life by the unaffected kindness of her new neighbours.
Jane Graham, the main character in The L-Shaped Room is an incredibly interesting protagonist. She begins the book as what seems to be a self-pitying, immature and generally dislikeable character. It is because of these unflattering personality traits that I enjoyed reading The L-Shaped Room. Her flawed character made the book more realistic and I appreciated the fact that I could sneer in contempt at some of the outrageous things Jane had done!
In the first chapter she talks, thankfully with some guilt, of an incident that had happened a few years previously which in my opinion sums up her puerile character. “....a queer called Malcolm, was in love with another of the actors. This actor wasn’t a bit queer…. But he loved this actor and that I found disgusting. One evening we let Malcolm catch us kissing ….” Malcolm was of course distraught over this blatant display of rejection and physically lashed out at Jane causing minor bodily harm. However, instead of Jane apologising to him and explaining her horrific behaviour she lets him believe that he is in the wrong and whines “How can I stay after this”. This extract shows Jane to not only be a fastidious, narrow-minded woman but also someone who displays almost childlike qualities “I wanted to punish him for making me feel so guilty”. The lack of maturity shown above is no doubt a result of a sheltered life-style in her “comfortable suburban home”. She seemed to have been babied by her father who refers to her as the “carefree daughter who knows no better than to interrupt his Atlasian labours”. However, it is clear to any reader that Jane matures and develops rapidly over the duration of this novel. No doubt this is somewhat due to her sudden condemnation to the LShaped Room. She is forced to learn how to look after herself and, of course, is given the mammoth responsibility of preparing for her unborn child who “sooner or later I would have to tell someone about”. 12
I cannot decide on an exact point of The L-Shaped Room at which I can confidently say Jane has matured however, it is undeniable that the turning point is when she finally realises “the baby needs to live”. This may have happened as the result of a reckless curry eating escapade but it gave me a newfound respect for the young mother who, like anyone in her position at the time, had obviously been afraid of what people may think and the consequences a new born baby would have on your work life etc. Jane’s main secret is her pregnancy which she attempts to hide for as long as possible. She often ponders such things as “I wonder how long it will take me to show”. In an attempt of confession Jane reveals her secret to her father whose “tolerant smile slipped off his face as his cheek muscles sagged”, this results in her condemnation to the L-shaped room.
Jane succeeds in keeping her secret from the rest of the world for a while longer. However, eventually, she realises that she has nothing to be ashamed of and replies to a casual question about her health “Luckily I didn’t lose the baby so I’m very happy about that.” At this moment the reader begins to not only understand that the odd community in this house in Fulham has become Jane’s family, but also that she has matured and become more confident within herself. Dialogue is a very important aspect of each of this novel. In my opinion, there are several reasons for this, the foremost being that it was incredibly important for the book to have the air of reality. The author found that dialogue was the perfect way to do this. There is one simple reason for this and that is the fact that real people have conversations and it is therefore necessary for the any authentic character to be given a speaking role. It also allows you to form your own opinion of the character from how he or she talks and listens which, for me, is an essential factor in any novel. The use of dialogue in The L-Shaped Room was frequent and well placed. It gave the reader an unbiased insight into Jane’s personality without the author’s filter and it often allowed us to see her cranky and self-absorbed character “Look….I want to be by myself”.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and felt that it gave an interesting insight into the attitude towards women and sex in the 50’s (when the book was set). Although the beginning was not particularly fast-paced, the novel picks up quickly and blossoms into a truly enthralling tale. I would definitely recommend this read, however one must be prepared to muddle through the fairly unappealing beginning. _________________________________________________
Left: Daisy McKeever’s portrait of Maria Herrero; Right: Ciana Taylor’s portrait of John Majekodunmi
REVIEW: THE EYE OF MINDS by JAMES DASHNER NYLA JAMIESON The Eye of Minds is the first novel in the Mortality Doctrine series. It was written by James Dashner who is better known for writing the Maze Runner. The Eye of Minds is a sci-fi book set in the near future. In this world it is possible to go into a game with total body and mind immersion because of an advanced technology called the virtnet. This is every gamer’s dream but it soon becomes their worst nightmare when one gamer, Kaine, begins to take people hostage inside the game leaving their real bodies unresponsive shells. Michael is a gamer. He and his friends Bryson and Sarah are really intelligent and are able to find the code while immersed in the game and hack it. As a result of this, when fear of Kaine starts causing real life suicides, the game’s security call on Michael and his friends to stop Kaine. Sometimes you need a hacker to stop a hacker. The story follows Michael in his attempts to catch Kaine. Throughout the book he faces deadly challenges, codes corners of the system human eyes have never seen and blurs the line between game and reality to the point where nothing will be the same again. The Eye of Minds is one of my favourite books. I have forced several friends to read it and whenever anyone comes to me for reading suggestions it is always on the list. In my opinion the world in which the book is set has the perfect balance. It is close enough to our own to make it believable but different enough to interest you. The technology is well explained and the description is convincing. The characters have depth and grow through the book which causes you to care about them. The plot line is full of surprises all leading up to a final plot twist which left me literally speechless. I, who always prided myself on my ability to foresee the ending of a book, was stunned at this book’s conclusion which is part of the reason I fell in love with this trilogy. I would urge anyone to read this book. It is easy to get into and there is never a boring moment reading The Eye of Minds. On the first page you're thrown straight into a thrilling moment of Michael trying to stop a girl committing suicide. The plotline is a little complex and so you would need to be able to read it continually in chunks but as long as you have the time to spare this is not a problem as this book really is a page turner and hours can race away while you're immersed in the story. 14
REVIEW: ROOM by EMMA DONOGHUE CATHERINE BUTT
Room is a short novel of just under 200 pages by Emma Donoghue. In this short space of time Emma is able to pack a powerful punch. Room is the story of a boy and his mother. That seems pretty normal doesn't it? But on his fifth birthday he realises that he isn't normal. This is because the only thing the boy has ever known is a small room. He believes that this is his whole world. As the book continues the boy must find a way to escape and also survive the real world. This book uses very simple language but it is still able to move the reader. I like that the author shows the bond between mother and son. It is also interesting to see the world from a sheltered loving five-year-old's perspective. This makes the book different from many others as the boy doesn't know anything about our world. This book also shows us the willpower that people can summon up. The boy's mother had to survive living in a room for 8 years and being cut off from the world. She then has to rediscover the world in a completely different stage to the one that she left. I think it is interesting to see how fast the world changes. In this book we also see the impact of social media on people's lives. The mother's bombardment with critics and fans is interesting for us as a society to watch. This is because it is important for us to see how the media affects people and how it may not always be for the best. Overall Room is a book that is easy to understand and full of twists and turns. I definitely can recommend it to anyone as it is an easy thrilling read. Ciana Taylor
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REVIEW: ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by ANTHONY DOERR NICOLE DICKERSON
All The Light We Cannot See is a novel telling the story of two children during WW11, written by Antony Doerr. Marie-Laure is a young blind girl who has to leave her home in Paris with her father and take refuge in her uncle's house in Saint-Malo.
was kept in the attic of his house.
Marie-Laure's father is entrusted with a priceless Jewel, the Sea Of Flames. After her father is arrested by the Nazis, she and her uncle, Etienne, decide to help the allies using an old radio that
Werner is a young orphaned boy from Germany and his point of view in the novel is very different to Marie-Laure's. Werner is indoctrinated from a young age and is forced to fight for the Germans because of his brilliant mind. Werner and Marie-Laure both meet at the end after an explosion which causes them to both be trapped in different places. Marie-Laure uses the radio and helps Werner escape. They instantly form a bond that is unbreakable.
All The Light We Cannot See really catches the essence of tragedy of war and MarieLaure and Werner's relationship at the end shows common humanity. It's truly an amazing book and I recommend it to anyone. It is a real page turner and once you start reading it's impossible not to get totally absorbed by it.
Antonio Serra 16